Until recently travelers who were prioritizing securing cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, or cheap vacation packages would not consider shipping their bags in advance of a trip because of the cost. With the cost of shipping bags going down, as low as $50 one way per bag, and the airlines baggage fees going up, around $25 to ship the first bag and even more to ship additional bags, baggage services are starting to appeal to the budget conscious travelers.
Passengers traveling with small children, or those who have mobility issues, travel frequently, or dont like to wonder whether there will be space in overhead compartments for their carry-on luggage, are starting to seriously consider shipping their luggage in advance.
Two companies in particular (Luggage Free and The Travelers Closet) are appealing to cheap minded travelers. Luggage Free charges a flat fee for three day ground shipping for luggage weighing up to 50 lbs anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Customers can request pick up service from their home or office or drop if off at an authorized shipping center.
Travelers Closet offers customers the ability to store individual closets with them that will be shipped to the desired location for a flat rate of $49.95 for five day FedEx ground shipping within the 48 contiguous states. After wearing your clothes Travelers Closet will, if desired, dry clean and launder your clothes for $2.50 per item and then ship them home.
To take advantage of services such as these, early planning and using ground shipping is a must. Shipment services are also attractive if you need to travel with an oversized or overweight bag.
One of the pluses of using a well known ground shipping service is that you can track your shipment and have confidence that it will arrive. Bags are lost more often by the airlines when you have to make one or more connections, particularly if you will be flying on more than one airline. Believe it or not, airlines baggage fees are not refunded even if they lose your luggage.
www.cheapfares.com